Animal trap with auxiliary spring



NQV. 28, 1944. I L MELAAS 2,363,740

ANIMAL TRAP WITH AUXILIARY SPRING Filed Jan. 13, 1944 l N VEN TOR. A151? R MEL AA 5 A TTORNEX also its force.

' short transverseslot II.

Patented Nov, 28, 1944 TRAP WITH AUXILIAIQIY SPRING Y Iver P. Melaas, Stony Brook, Minn. I

Application January 13, 1944, Serial No. 518,167

' '3 Claims. (01.43-88) This invention relates totraps, such as are used in catching an'imalis, lured by a bait displayed thereon, and which upon being seized by an animal, releases aspring, causing closure of jaws upon whatever has molested the bait.

Successful operating of such. traps depend on the quick, instantaneous actionof the spring and If too slow. the animal may retreat; if too weak, it may escape from between the jaws. v

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an animal trap, of the common spring actuated type, with a reinforcing spring whereby the action of .the trap is materially intensified.

A further feature is in the provision of such springs, together with connecting clips, that can I be applied at anytime to presently in an easy and efficient manner. 1

made traps Another purpose is to .produce an auxiliary spring having slidable connections adjustable on the main spring of the trap.

These objects arev accomplished by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of few and simple parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting a graphical component of this disclosure, and in which: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of aconventional type of spring trap, in an open onset condition, and showing an application of the invention. p

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the, same when in a closed or sprung condition.

Figure 3 is aperspective view of the connecting clips and spring. f v I Referring in detail to the drawing, the trap is U shaped spring, its upper element/23 having a circular opening 24, directly over. the-base flange I2, the portion 25 of the element 23, impinging forcibly against the under edges of the sides of theljaws I8 and I9,- tendingv to close them together.

This is prevented, when the trap is in a set position, by a latch 26 hingedly mounted in the consisting of a four armed cross shaped piece" of the springs 22-'23.

slot IT at its outer end, and held at its-inner end by a trigger '21, pivoted. in the cross strip at I5, the-outer end'of the trigger-supportingly engaging the platform ZI, until by movement thereof when the trap is sprung. a

Interposedbetween the elements 22 and 23 of the; U spring," is an open coiled compression spring 28, held, in adjusted positionby clips 29,

ot flexible metal. I I

- Two oppositelydisposed arms 30 are bent to interengage the outer coils of the spring, while the' other pair 3| constitute: a slideto partially surround the spring elements 22 and 23 respec-' ,tively. 7 1 a These elips'ca'nbe assembled by an ordinary pair of pinchers,-,by hand, without diiiiculty, and may be disposed at any point along-the length Having thus described the claimed as new and sought to secure by Letters Patent, is: 3 1/ 1. In combination with an animal trap having opposed jaws and a U shaped spring having means to close the jaws; an auxiliary coiled shown to consist of a metal base I0, usually a fiat strip, having at. its outer end an upstanding right angled flange I I, and at its opposite end a similar flange I2, but of lesser width, each containing paired circular openings I3 N Rigidly fixed midway; on thisbase is a cross strip I4, reversely bent. as at I5, andterminating in an angularly raised end 16, in which is a A pair of bow shaped jaws I8 and I9, are provided with outturned pivots 20 rotatable in the openings I3, the jaws having their side portions abutting the inner sides of'the flanges IIv and.

A bait platform M is mounted above thecross vstrip l4, centrally between the'jaws I B and [9,

to carry a lure for the animal to be trapped.

Rigidly secured on the inner end of the base strip I0 is the lower element 220i a strong spring interposedbetween the members of said U shaped spring and clips at'the ends of said coiled spring adjustable on the members of said -U shaped spring.

'2. The combination with an animal trap having opposed pivoted jaws and a fiat spring bent to provide upper and lower members; the lower of said members being fixed and theupper hav-' ing means to close said jaws when sprung, a clip adjustably' engaged on. each of said, members,

anda-helicalspring fixed atitsrespective ends in said clips. 1 1

3.'In combination with an animal trap hav- 7 ing opposed jaws and a U shaped spring having means to close the jaws; an auxiliary coiled I spring interposed between the members of said U. shaped spring and a pair ofcross shaped clips having two of their opposed arms engaged with the ends of said spring, andthe remaining armsembracing the members of said U shaped spring. I

IVER MELAAS.

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